Merchant is a character class in Fire Emblem Awakening. Merchant is a class that is exclusive for NPC Annas, however not the playable Anna, as she is a Trickster. So, no playable characters can have the merchant class. Merchants can only use Lances in battle.
Merchants only appear in skirmishes where both a merchant and a group of Risen appear in the same area on the map. When the world map randomly updates, Risen and Merchants are added to the map, however they can also randomly be placed in the same location. However Rift Doors and Reeking Boxes cannot be used on spaces with merchants or Risen, so they can only be put on the same space by random chance.
In a Risen skirmish with a merchant, the merchant must be defended from the Risen. In battle, the merchant has low stats and a weak lance. If the merchant survives the battle, then she will give The Shepherds a random rare item. She will also then stay on the map, so the Shepherds can still buy items from her as well.
Items[]
When a merchant appears on the world map, the shop at their location will be temporarily given three new items. The new items are randomly generated from a preset list of items for each location as well as having a chance of being a rare item. Most locations have nine preset items and a 1:10 chance of having a rare item, however later areas in the game always will have three rare items.